2019-05-07 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                     7 MAY 2019


The CSIRO recommendations are:
 that Council assess the merit of the three models provided, consider the proposed attributes
   and determine a preferred potential model or number of options to take to the next stage of
   assessment and consultation (Stage 2).
 Should Council wish to proceed to Stage 2, clear aims for the institute must be developed
   and communicated to assist in the formulation of any institute structure and inform the
   operating model and to be used for broader engagement on the idea.

Following receipt of the CSIRO report, a decision was made to supplement this report with
additional insight into the scope and quantum of activity within the area of sustainability,
research, action and environmental management locally. Thus a desktop research exercise was
undertaken and the Addendum report (Attachment 2) developed which provides a summary of a
range of local organisations actively undertaking research, partnerships, action and developing
solutions on environmental challenges and sustainability, some local examples include:
    Noosa Council
    Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (NBRF)
    USC Sustainability Research Centre
    Noosa & District Landcare
    ZEN Inc.
    CQ University
    Tourism Noosa
    Clean Tech Industries Sunshine Coast
    Noosa Community Gardens Group Inc.
    Sustainable Planet Institute – Noosa
    Polkadot ecovillages, Noosa
    The Global Change Institute, UQ
    Permaculture Research Institute Sunshine Coast
    Environmental Futures Research Institute - Griffith University
    #Earthtech
    Centre for International Development, Social Entrepreneurism and Leadership

It should be noted this list as summarised in Attachment 2 is not exhaustive however is intended
to demonstrate a range of examples, research and action already occurring locally.

As outlined in the original report on this concept Council has placed significant emphasis and
focus on sustainability for many years, demonstrating leadership for its community around
sustainable practises for its natural and built environment. Council has actively sought to
continue to develop Council's credentials and expertise in this area and it is now clear as
identified in the supplementary work that many also view Noosa in this manner. Many
organisations and individuals consider Noosa an excellent location to both establish themselves
or business, base their organisation or institution and pursue actions and solutions aimed at
addressing global and local sustainability challenges. Noosa is considered to have all the
attributes to be a living laboratory of genuine sustainability.

Evidence of this exists in all of the examples summarised in Attachment 2 however there are two
very recent examples that demonstrate what is already occurring in Noosa and the opportunity
this presents for Noosa. A new enterprise was recently launched at the Peregian Digital Hub
called Earthtech. Earthtech aims to gather together tech creatives, entrepreneurs and investors
to facilitate high-tech innovations that focus on improving the planet, addressing sustainability
challenges including the climate crisis.

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